Guest Rooms – “With Me” + “Put Me Together”

Mason Parva constructs gorgeous, wall-of-sound arrangements under the name Guest Rooms. The project seems poised to erupt in recognition with strongly impressive new release Put Me Together, “a six-track narrative about a season of loss and acute feelings and questions that arose on its part.” All six efforts are great, though “With Me” and “Put Me Together” stand out in particular. The former is a great example of his tendency to patiently develop a track, with increasing emotional ferocity that grows. Guitar feedback lingers melodically over his quaint vocals, with the eventual arrival of a synth arpeggio coinciding with gradual guitar swipes and use of tremolo. A more leisurely paced War on Drugs comes to mind. Things really take off at the three-minute mark, when percussion becomes involved alongside more expressive vocal twists. It’s an impressive piece of songwriting, one of six examples throughout the release.

“Put Me Together” is even more fascinating aesthetically, while still maintaining his tendency to build. Light piano and woodwind flourishes set a very springtime-laden beginning, the swelling orchestra and echoed vocals reminding of Sufjan Stevens’ ever-expanding arsenal. When all the orchestral pieces and piano-laden shakiness converge in the final minute, it makes for a cohesive accomplishment that shows Parva’s range in both rock and more chamber-pop trajectories. More eclectic goodness is present on the release’s other four tracks, streaming below:

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Mike Mineo

I'm the founder/editor of Obscure Sound. I used to write for PopMatters and Stylus Magazine.
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